Why Merlyn’s Anti-Racism rally is rescheduled for this coming Sunday

1. As of today CUPE 3903 is calling for their supporters to again try to shut down Merlyn Kinrade’s CANACE Anti-Racism Rally this coming Sunday in Caledonia at 2pm.

2. Canada Free Press journalist Bill McIntyre has just published an absolutely scathing critique of the media’s failure to hound the Ontario government over Caledonia in light of the intimidation by Tom Keefer and CUPE 3903:

Merlyn Kinrade and CANACE are re-staging their Anti-Racism Rally this Sunday, 2pm at the Caledonia Lions Hall after they cancelled it on the spot last Sunday after members of CUPE 3903 and native protesters who support the use of criminal behaviour by the Haudenosaunee Men’s Fire showed up to disrupt the event.

Since the OPP refused requests from Merlyn to send officers to separate the two sides, CANACE decided, shortly after 2pm to immediately re-schedule the protest for this coming Sunday, and left the area at 2:23pm. This is why:

The situation on Sunday was very similar to what happened during a Dec 01/07 smokeshack protest where non-natives were attacked and sent to hospital because the OPP changed their SOP and failed to provide sufficient resources ( including – curiously enough, for the first time in Caledonia’s history, officers capturing evidence on videotape). OPP officer Jeff Bird testified he was “alarmed” at the lack of resources for the protest and that it was not following SOPs.

Insufficient officers present allowed those supporters of the smokeshack to cross the police ‘line’ to provoke confrontations and conduct numerous assaults on residents and CANACE founders, including yours truly. The police refused to arrest any of them, but did manage to arrest a resident quietly drinking coffee.

While the victims of the native violence were still in the hospital Fantino and the OPP issued a news release blaming the non-native victims for the violence, and later wrote a letter of reference for the native man who led the swarming attack on Gary McHale which – incredibly – blamed McHale for the violence against him.

And, as we now know from OPP emails, Fantino ordered his officers to target McHale for charges even though the force had now evidence to support one, and two of his most senior officers are now facing Obstructing Justice charges because they followed those instructions.

McHale (and some reporters) believe that the OPP deliberately allowed the situation on Sunday to remain under-policed in order to allow a confrontation/violence to break out for which they could again blame him, and then tell the town, See – Gary’s dangerous. After what transpired on Dec 01/07, I can hardly blame him for thinking that since that’s exactly what I told the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services in a complaint dated May 30/08:

Gary McHale has sent a detailed letter to the Minister of Community Safety informing him about the activities of the leader of last Sunday’s CUPE protest, Tom Keefer, who has a long history of supporting organized crime groups in Caledonia & Brantford. McHale warned the minister that if violence does break out this Sunday because of a failure to protect our right to speak, there will be legal repercussions for him and the OPP.

Tom Keefer/CUPE 3903 role in Caledonia’s misery

I have prepared a special fact-sheet for Tom Keefer which is under construction on a new VoC feature page called, CALEDONIA PLAYERS:

At last Sunday’s protest I arrived with a sign saying, “HEALING BEGINS WITH APOLOGIES FROM OPP, MCGUINTY, 6 NATIONS.” Just two days later, on March 23/10, MPP Toby Barrett sent out an email announcing that the PC’s Aboriginal Affairs critic Ted Arnott had called for the McGuinty government to “apologize to the people of Caledonia for the ineffective policy of this government.”

I wonder if the PC’s have been reading the CANACE plan for healing and reconciliation Merlyn Kinrade and I presented to Brantford Council in September 2008:

In order to build on his extensive experience as an activist and founding member of CANACE in opposing and documenting racial policing on behalf of victims in Caledonia since October 2006, Mark Vandermaas left CANACE in February 2010 to independently focus on education and policy research regarding the adverse impact of present aboriginal policies with the goal of ensuring that the lessons learned from the victimization of innocents – both aboriginal and non-aboriginal – during land claim disputes are fully represented in policy discussions seeking long-term solutions to healing and reconciliation. Mark maintains a close working relationship with CANACE, and continues to participate in protests on behalf of the victims of racial policing. He endorses CANACE principles respecting the rule of law and the protection of human rights

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Fighting for justice in the Caledonia no-go zone: Our story in our words

“McHale is that rarest of modern Canadian creatures — a man who acts on principle, lives and breathes it in fact.” — Christie Blatchford, National Post columnist and author of ‘Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear And Anarchy, And How The Law Failed All Of Us’; from her foreword to Gary McHale’s ‘Victory In The No-Go Zone.’

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Christie Blatchford: Caledonia law = Deep South law

“…the law in Haldimand County operates as the law in America’s Deep South once worked, where there was one law for the white man, who could break it with impunity, and another for the black man. In Haldimand County, since the occupation began, there has been one law for natives and another for non-natives.“

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"And Mark and Gary, thank you for making us feel like we are not alone in this and that there are other Canadians who care." Elaine, Caledonia resident

"Mark, I just want to say thanks again for your diligence and your help with our struggle here in Caledonia. Thanks also to Gary, without his web site no one would know the lengths the government and the OPP will go to appease terrorists. I don't know how much more the residents who live along the occupied zone can take. I know for myself, I feel lost with nowhere to turn, with little to no help. I do however, thank God for you and Gary. Keep up the good work." Caledonia resident

"Dear Mark: this is my first visit to your site and I absolutely love it. I’m from Caledonia and have been fighting the two tiered justice system since day one. Thank you so much for following Gary McHale’s involvement and coming to Caledonia." Beth

"There are many injustices going on in Canada at the moment, especially in First Nation Territory. They could sure use a man of your passion to give them a hand! Sincerely, Rob"

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and Gary and all those who are willing to put your lives on hold to fight for freedom, democracy, law and order. They are definitely worth fighting for. If only I was 20 years younger. God Bless you all !" Cora

"I have to commend you on your writing, very direct, effective and from the heart." David Hartless

"Thanks Mark, and also to you Gary. You guys rock, to stand up for us when no one else will is just great. I can’t even stand up for myself for fear of retaliation against my family." 'BeothucVSA'

"Mark, I would just like to say that I was more than proud to stand in Caledonia on Jan 20th with men like yourself, Gary, Chris and Merlin." Larry Dicy

"We need all the help we can get and owe so much to 'outsiders.' Keep up the good work." Margaret

"I personally appreciate the concern and support of Gary and yourself." Donna Reid

"I enjoy reading posts from a true journalist especially one who holds the truth above all other objectives." Jim Anderson

"Again, thank you Mark for a great job at keeping the focus on the issue at hand that is Two Tier Justice and Equality issues." Lisa Parent

"Good stuff Mark...truth is the greatest weapon against corruption and the wider the truth is sewn the less the grip of the corruptors." WL Mackenzie Redux

"That was so nice of you to make that phone call to Jack on our behalf. Your article on Jack was very touching. [enter 'Let's remember Jack tomorrow' in search box above]Thank you for standing up along with Gary and fighting this issue for Canada and Jack too. It is one big can of worms." Mary, Kelowna, BC

"Congratulations and many thanks to you tireless freedom fighters in CANACE. What a Canada Day present this was. I nominate you all, particularly Judge Marshall, for an Order of Canada award. Many people talk about rights, freedom, and equity under law, but few focus their actions on delivering it. You guys are the genuine article. Thank you again." Caledonia resident